Pipofezine (Azafen or Azaphen) is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) approved in Russia for the treatment of depression. It was introduced in the late 1960s and is still used today. Pipofezine has been shown to act as a potent inhibitor of the reuptake of serotonin. In addition to its antidepressant action, pipofezine has sedative effects as well, suggesting antihistamine activity. Other properties such as anticholinergic or antiadrenergic actions are less clear but are likely. The main advantage of Azafen compared with other tricyclic antidepressants is that this drug has a low toxic effect on the body, including the heart, and it does not block cholinergic receptors and does not change the activity of monoamine oxidase. The maximum concentration in the blood is reached after 1-2 hours after taking the drug. Absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, metabolism occurs in the liver, and is excreted by Azaphene kidneys.

Aluminoparaaminosalicylate calcium hydrate is antimicrobial agents and anti-inflammatory agent for topical and oral use. Para-aminosalicylic acid is an active component of Aluminoparaaminosalicylate calcium. Para-aminosalicylic acid has been shown to be a pro-drug and it is incorporated into the folate pathway by dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) and dihydrofolate synthase (DHFS) to generate a hydroxyl dihydrofolate antimetabolite, which in turn inhibits dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzymatic activity.

Nicergoline is a semisynthetic ergoline derivative that has been used as a cerebral vasodilator and in peripheral vascular disease. Nicergoline seems to have an action: (i) as an alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, it induces vasodilation and increases arterial blood flow; (ii) it enhances cholinergic and catecholaminergic neurotransmitter function; (iii) it inhibits platelet aggregation; (iv) it promotes metabolic activity, resulting in increased utilization of oxygen and glucose; and (v) it has neurotrophic and antioxidant properties. Nicergoline has been suggested to ameliorate cognitive deficits in cerebrovascular disease.

Cinchonidine is an alkaloid found in Cinchona officinalis and Gongronema latifolium. Cinchonidine is an antimalarial drug which has been used clinically in malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Cinchonidine is reported as an ingredient of Quinimax in a number of countries. Quinimax is a combination of four alkaloids (quinine, quinidine, cinchoine and cinchonidine).

Acotiamide (Acofide(®)), an oral first-in-class prokinetic drug, is under global development by Zeria Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd and Astellas Pharma Inc. for the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia. The drug modulates upper gastrointestinal motility to alleviate abdominal symptoms resulting from hypomotility and delayed gastric emptying. It exerts its activity in the stomach via muscarinic receptor inhibition, resulting in enhanced acetylcholine release and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. Acofide® is launched in Japan for treating functional dyspepsia.

Guanazodine is a new antihypertensive drug. Guanazodine caused a sustained decrease in the systemic blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats, renal hypertensive dogs and normal cats. No tachyphylaxis developed when the drug was administered orally. The heart rate decreased. Guanazodine relaxed the cat nictitating membrane, attenuated the positive chronotropic response to sympathetic nerve stimulation in anesthetized dogs and in isolated rabbit aorta to transmural electrical stimulation. Guanazodine potentiated the pressor response to noradrenaline but attenuated the response to tyramine in anesthetized cats. It may be concluded that the hypotensive effect of guanazodine is related to adrenergic neuron blocking action, the noradrenaline-depleting action in peripheral tissues is similar to the effect of guanethidine and bethanidine. However, this drug is less potent than guanethidine. Toxicity and side effects appear to be less with guanazodine than with guanethidine and bethanidine.

Zabicipril is an ethyl ester prodrug that is converted in vivo to zabiciprilat. Zabicipril induced an early, potent, and long-lasting converting enzyme inhibition. Furthermore, zabicipril did not affect plasma catecholamines and atrial natriuretic factor. It is antihypertensive and peripheral vasodilator. In normal men, zabicipril increases the renal fraction of cardiac output in the absence of a concomitant change in systemic haemodynamics. This specific effect of zabicipril on the kidney may be less important with advancing age.

Oral dehydroemetine dihydrochloride (+/-) (Mebadin) was found useful both as a tissue and contact amoebicide. It is much less toxic and more active than emetine and can be given in larger doses and for longer periods with safety. Owing to the quick excretion, repeat courses can be given at short intervals, as necessary, without danger. No serious side effects were noted particularly with the oral form and it was far better tolerated by children, who received relatively higher dosage than most adults. The only contra-indication is for patients with manifest decompensation of vital organs, or fevers. Mebadin injection and Mebadin tablets are discontinued products.

Minodronic acid (RECALBON®, Bonoteo®), a third-generation bisphosphonate, was approved in Japan for the oral treatment of osteoporosis. This drug increases the bone mineral density and the strength by inhibiting osteoclastic bone resorption. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, such as minodronic acid (RECALBON®, Bonoteo®) induce osteoclast apoptosis by inhibiting farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS), a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. Inhibition of FPPS in osteoclasts prevents the biosynthesis of isoprenoid lipids that are required for the prenylation of small GTPase signaling proteins necessary for osteoclast function. Similarly, nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates have been shown to inhibit farnesyl pyrophosphate/geranyl pyrophosphate synthase activity.

Cetiedil is effective potassium channel blocker used as a peripheral vasodilator to treat patients with painful crises in sickle cell anemia and pain in the extremities caused by an arterial disease. Known pharmacological properties of the drug include vascular smooth muscle relaxation, inhibition of phosphodiesterase with the consequent increase in circulating cyclic AMP concentration, blockade of the effect of bradykinin and serotonin, analgesia, inhibition of platelet aggregation and the decrease of plasma and blood viscosity and plasma fibrinogen level. The antisickling effect of cetiedil is explained mainly in the light of the changes it induces in the activities of membrane-bound ATPases and the permeability properties of the erythrocyte membrane to cations and anions.